Cool Recipes for Hot Days

Was really hot  last week and houses around  here don't have air conditioning so I was definitely in the mood for cool food.Who wants to eat a steaming hot dish when you're  already sweating 😖 So I went browsing for some good dishes and thought I'd share them with you.I put up the pictures from each site  so  you'd have an idea what  each one  looks like .Lots of yummy stuff here 😋😋

                                                                         Grape Salad 

                                     https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/creamy-grape-salad/

Blue Cheese Chicken Sandwiches

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/blue-cheese-chicken-salad-sandwiches/

Pea Salad 

This is one of my favorites.I make it all the time ! I just make mine slightly different . I skip the onions and   add  tiny chunks of raw carrot for extra crunch (if I happen to have them on hand.)Then make my dressing with a combo of mayonnaise,ranch dressing,pepper,sugar,salt and perhaps a dash or two of cayenne pepper.

https://www.berlyskitchen.com/green-pea-salad-recipe/?fbclid=IwAR1-Fz_nyzGbS5vv5HtbUzm1i-dz6oeTJG_-fS1Z8sXrsEqdBk8xkHZQ7C0

                                                    Reuben Wraps 

Everyone loves a reuben sandwich but these are a little different as you make them into wraps instead of using bread.Just a nice twist on an old favorite .

https://acultivatednest.com/reuben-wraps/?fbclid=IwAR3SXeZG1sb6UGQrXdawFrAV80BaGZBD88lpdxw990hAZ0_UiEpUub8hb8s

                                                 Beet Macaroni Salad

Unfortunately there's no picture with  this one but I've made it before and it's good!😋

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/beet-macaroni-salad/?fbclid=IwAR0qau8j2_wW5gitD46SBTiioT-QmkYfJJB1Hf8P-_YmuKwQ1_D1SNy4q9g

                                                   

                                                Baked Potato Salad 

Sometimes you want your favorite foods but you get tired of eating it the same way time after time.So here's a different twist on a potato salad.I've tried it  before and it's every bit as good as it sounds 👍

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/loaded-baked-potato-salad/?fbclid=IwAR32A-u4Tai0dea6X3Sziwjrwme5iEEiFQtqP01wNlc8dszCIeMzsirWSoo

          

                                                                  Ice Box Cake

                            Haven't had this in awhile but it's good!Very easy to put together and                                            no baking required either.What more can you ask for when it's hot outside?!😃I always used               graham crackers  but I imagine it'd be just as good with vanilla wafers.

                                    https://thebestcakerecipes.com/chocolate-eclair-cake/

Tortilla Folding Hack

Saw this trick a couple weeks ago so I just had to try it.And it turned out so well I'll definitely  be adding this to my favorite kitchen tips for future use.Not sure  if it'd work for burrtios  or not ( so far  I've only used it for sandwiches.)The idea is to put a different  sandwich filler on each triangle as you fold it up .So let's say mayo on the first,cheese on the second,ham on the third and lettuce on the fourth.I tried to take some pictures so you'd  have an idea  what I'm talking about.Unfortunately I deleted the first picture where I showed you how to make that cut 😳so here's hoping you can figure it out 😇

Playing with Fondant

 I like to think of this stuff as edible playdough 😀

https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/how-to-make-rolled-fondant/

Attaching some pictures with links so you can see just how awesome this stuff can be .Now if I can only find the patience to try some of them😜

This picture comes from https://onlycrumbsremain.com/6-easy-fondant-christmas-character-ideas/

and this one from https://iscreamforbuttercream.com/easy-fondant-rose-without-tools/

Potpourri

Ok this post really isn't about potpourri but it sounds better then saying, " just a bunch of odds and ends" 😃

 A recipe for  cheesy chicken dip.

I used to make a chicken dip that I loved but now can't remember what was in it .I do remember it was so good on crackers.Went looking online and found one that's  similar  to what I remember .

 https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/crack-chicken-dip/

A recipe for   ranch crackers .

I never was too fond of oyster creackers because  they were a bit plain but here's a way to turn them into a delicious snack 😋

https://www.hiddenvalley.com/recipe/hidden-valley-oyster-crackers/

A cowboy cookbook.

 Not just any cowboy this book features recipes from such famous cowboys as Gene Autry ,Roy Rogers and others from  the good old days.Loved this book so much but sadly left my copy at home so just putting a link to it as I don't have any pictures to show you.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-American-Cowboy-Cookbook-Cooking/dp/1558533656/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=cowboy+cookbook&qid=1619865239&sr=8-5

A way to make your old pictures come to life .

Not tried this myself but have seen someone using it to bring the passengers of Titanic to life and it was so life like.So go pull out those old family photos and try it.Note they'll let  you  do several for free  but  afterwards you'll need a paid subscription

https://www.myheritage.com/deep-nostalgia

Cooking Tips

Just  a few simple cooking tips I discovered recently  .Sure  wish I'd known about these  sooner  so here's hoping you'll  find them helpful too 😇( that is if you don't know about them already 😀)

 When making stuffed peppers speed up the cooking process by putting  your peppers in boiling water for ten minutes .I  cooked mine whole just removed the top and seeds first.Then add your fillings and pop in the oven for ten minutes or so to heat up .

For a twist on scrambled eggs  put  your cheese ( cut into  small  pieces )  in the  skillet  along with a bit of butter  then cook   for a minute or so to get it  nice and crisp .Next add add  your scrambled eggs and cook as usual.This gave it such a different flavor and  reminded me of chewy cheese on a pizza.Yum!😋

Wake Up Tip

This may sound strange but it really works 😀I got it from a blog called " One Good Thing by Jillee " and have been doing it  every morning for awhile now .I just keep a thermos of coffee next to my bed so it's right there when I wake up   no need to run to the kitchen first thing in the morning.Give it a try and see  what you think 😇

 Anyway here's the tip:drink  a cup  of coffee then go back to sleep for  15-20  minutes.This gives  the caffeine a chance to kick in while you're still relaxing instead of groggily trying to move about the kitchen .Weird but wonderful I say 😁

Cleaning Tips

Don't think most of us enjoy cleaning the house but it's something that needs to be done so  thought I'd share a few tips to make it easier on all of us 😇.  The first two tips  came from a blog called " One Good Thing By Jillee ." She has lots of good stuff  on there be  sure to check it out !

1:Use a broom to clean the bathtub.( perfect for folks  who can't bend easily ) Squirt dish soap around the floor and sides of your tub  then get the broom wet and use it as a scrubber to spread the soap around.Finally rinse and enjoy the sparkle!

2:Have a vent that needs cleaning? Wrap a rag around  a butter knife and push it between  each  slot. I tried this with the air conditioning  vent one day and was so happy to finally be able to get rid of all that dust!

3:Have a microwave that's filthy? Use a  regular antibacterial spary ( especially one that specifies it's for soap scum or grime )  to wet down the entire  inside surface then let it rest an hour or so.You'll be amazed how easily it'll  be to wipe down afterwards.

4:Use hydrogen peroxide to remove  blood stains

5:Try mopping  the floor using  a spray bottle instead of   a bulky bucket.Wet the mop first then dilute your favorite floor cleaner with some water and put it into a spray bottle .Spray the floor  and mop as you go along .So much easier  then trying to lug around a bucket !

Anyone have a magic cleaning  trick up their sleeve  ? 

Purse Tips

 One thing I  forgot to bring with me when I  moved was my purse.Oh I  brought my favorite one with me but not the one I  was using  at the time so all those useful items   I kept  inside in  got left behind.Which meant I  had to re-build my purse belongings  from scratch .

I know  everyone's different when it comes to the absolute   musts they  carry in their purse  so what do you ladies carry in yours that you just can't leave the house without? Don't think I carry anything unsual😊 but I do  like to have a keychain light which I hang from  an outside   zipper .Comes in handy when you need a quick light .

Once upon a time I carried a tote but now I  find myself wanting to carry the smallest one  I  can  get away with  which isn't easy when you  have a lot of essentials😏  So for those of you who manage with just a little purse can you offer any hints on how to downsize for those of us who are afraid to leave  the house without  carrying everything but the kitchen sink 😅

A few  tips about purses I've come across :

1: Use cloth pencil cases to corral  smaller items.This way you can keep all those little things together so you know exactly where to find something  without having to  dig about  frantically  . (  they sell some nice cheap ones  on ebay ) 

 2 :If you like to use different purses through out the year using   a purse orginizer can come in handy.Store your  essentials in it and then  just switch it between bags. ( this tip came from the blog " One Good Thing by Jillee."   )This also comes in  handy if you use a tote to to travel.Keeps everything in one place. 

 3: Try a crossbody  if you're tired of using  a purse with a regular strap.This is by far the most comfortable way to carry a  purse .Plus they tend to be smaller but still have plenty of room .

4 : Bring a portable hook with  in case you run into one  those restrooms that don't   have a hook anywhere.It'll keep your purse off the dirty  floor. 

https://www.amazon.com/JISEN-Portable-Handbag-Foldable-Dragonfly1/dp/B07FFTGQX9/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1Z5KCDYZQU23V&dchild=1&keywords=purse+hook+portable&qid=1617724873&sprefix=purse+hook+po%2Caps%2C247&sr=8-4

Fun Things To Try If You're Feeling Bored

Thought I'd make my own version of what to do when you're feeling bored  😊

1:make a scarpbook

Choose a theme like travel ( all the places you want to visit ) or  your favorite fashions.

2:take a walking treasure hunt.( this is an idea I found on a blog called Messy Nessy)

Here's how it works.Make a list of possible items you'd find in your area such as birds,animals, your favorite color  ,a certain type of vehicle  ,stylish building features (  something made of brick ,a stained glass window etc.)a bill board sign with an ice cream cone  just to name a few examples.The fun part is you can pick and choose whatever you like and make it as easy or hard as you want.Then take a walk with a friend  and see  who can check off their items the fastest.

3:take a virtual trip around the world. 

Watch travel documentaries. Find and try different regional  recipes .

4:put together a photo album using  printed photos .

Add notes so those memories don't get lost in time.

5:get together with friends and family and make a silent movie 

 6:build  a fairy garden

https://www.installitdirect.com/learn/how-to-create-a-fairy-garden/

7: read books and keep notes  on each.Make your  own  book reviews to share or keep  private on a notepad 

8:make a volcano cake (  one that really erupts!)

https://delishably.com/desserts/how-to-make-a-volcano-cake

8:make an ice candle ( these are seriously so pretty!)

https://runningwithsisters.com/how-to-make-an-ice-candle/

9:make chocolate candy using  molds

I always thought this was  so much fun!Basically all you do is use a small  clean paint brush and paint different colors of melted chocolate onto the molds.Let that harden then  fill the mold  with  melted  chocolate .The most important thing to remember is you have to gently  bang your molds againt the counter or table  after filling them  in order to get rid of the air bubbles.Otherwise your candy will turn out all holey 😁

Schedules and Planners

 Today I thought I'd talk about  schedules and planners.This may sound a bit silly 😎but it's  helped me so much in staying orginized I  thought someone else might  find the idea useful. Doesn't  matter if you have a ton of stuff to do or  happen to be  someone who lives a bit on the  quiet side.

At one time I  had both a monthly schedule and a weekly planner    but right now I'm just using a weekly planner.Pick general chores to add to the planner ( don't forget to schedule in something fun 😇) There's something  very  calming about writing things down . It helps you focus and you no longer have to spend precious  time trying to figure out what to tackle first.

Since I've never  had kids  I've never really been in a positoon where I had hundreds of things to do but I've still found it very helpful when  trying to balance work with every day life.

However they come in handy even  if you're  not being  overwhelmed with work.Nowadays with so many of us stuck at home  thanks to  lock downs and what not  having a schedule can help  by  creating a sense of stability .If you don't know where to start begain with   general chores   then add in other things  such as reading ,watching movies,taking a walk, working on a craft project or just enjoying your favorite food ( think pizza/ice cream night.) Set  aside several  different things for each day so you have a varity .

Even though I've been doing this  for a couple years now it's  really been  helping me  since I  moved to the UK.All I  could do was sit around feeling sorry for myself. No job might be some peoples dream but it's  been really hard on me .Keeping a weekly planner really  helped get me back on track .Having  something scheduled to do each day meant I wasn't   thinking about  how bored I  was and what  there was to do   .I'm attaching a picture of mine so you can get a better idea of what I'm talking about 👩

P.S. It also helps to have a separate list   to hang on your fridge where you can write down chores in gerneral.Divide them into categories " Things to  do soon", Things to do today ",  and  " Things to  do later ."

And if you want to throw in a monthly schedule  as well ( I'm a nut when it comes to orginzation so I llove having both 😌)it pretty much works the same way expect I usually add things as they pop up rathering then planning ahead .

Memories

Ok I've been feeling  nostalgic  ever since  I've started reading my old dairies so I   thought it'd be fun to go back in time  and  reminisce about  a few  favorite  moments from the past .Some  are from the distant past  and others are more recent .Hope you don't mind me rambling😇 Anyway I've  done  it in a survey type format so you can join in if you want to 😍

Favorite childhood memory

Living  in Wyoming.I remember so much that I enjoyed ( boy do  I wish I was writing a diary back then!) I loved  the wide open spaces we had for a  back yard ,playing with the baby  praire dogs, and going to Yellowstone,the Tetons,and Lost Creek.I remember Kara riding her little pink bike  in the parking lot of our town house and Luke hating the lasagna from Swans  cause he said he didn't like the  noodles 😅 But then I  was no better cause  Swans had these enchiladas and  I always liked them until I  saw they had raisins in the ingredients and  bam  suddenly  I decided I didn't like them anymore 😬Then there were the  sleepovers at Tara and Jamies house, the  burger place  behind us (with the worlds best burgers or at least they were to a  8 year me 😉)and that pizza place in Saratoga .All I  can remember is the ton of oooy gooy cheese they always put on.mmmmm😋Oh and lets not forget  riding in the back of that green station wagon!

Now I can't even remember if this happened in WY or not but  it was somewhere around that time frame.Anyways  we were driving somewhere and I  looked behind us and there was a guy in a car eating an apple and he kept pointing at us .Well later we realized that  mom's purse was sitting on the back  bumper and we'd forgotten  all about it.Obviously he'd  trying to alert us to the fact but at the time I  just thought he was a nut .

Something silly

Putting glue on my  face  and pulling it off  once it dried ( I  remember it was in  Kansas so I was  probably around 7-8 ) 

Earliest memory

some strange man knocking on the  door when dad was at work  .I  remember mom calling dad on the phone to ask if he'd sent anyone over.I guess I just remember it because it was a bit scary so the memory  stuck with me

Favorite Game 

hmmm not sure but I do remember loving "quiet waters still waters" a game we learned from the Baptist church in Wy and "sharky sharky" which was  something we little people made up 

Favorite house

think I'd say the ranch house we had  but I  loved the woods at the house we moved to when we came back from Michigan   it was like a private park complete with a darling little brook.

Favorite recipe

 I loved mom's swiss steak and  kidney bean casserole.Mine never turned out as good 😏 I also loved a certain emon cake I  had it at a church poluck in MO . Been looking for a  similar recipe ever since.Have tried a few here and there but nothing spectacular

What to be when you grew up

well I remember in Wyoming I wanted to be a truck driver with  a purple simi

Favorite book 

Richard Scarrys" I  am a bunny".

Favorite toy

Probably my  big white  teddy bear considering I kept it into adulthood .But otherwise I'd say a pen grandpa gave me in Wyoming .I remember it  was one of those multi color ones  with what  seems to my mind  anyway was 12 different colors but probably not  that many.Everything seems bigger when you're little.There's another   toy I remember really liking  though I have no idea what it's called.It was some type of  revoling toy .Can't  even remember if it was ours or I just played with it at a friends house.But  I remember putting little dolls on it and it would  slowly twirl around.I  searched e-bay one time trying to see if anything would come up and I did  found something similar but now I  can't remember the name😬

Scary moment

Hearing the floor boards creek when I  was home alone.This is an old house and I'm slowly getting used to the borads creeking under my feet but this  happened  when I  was in the bathroom which scared me something awful cause no one was  supposed to be out there .I  really thought someone had gotten in the house and was creeping about.I took a can of shaving cream with me  and went searching  the rooms upstairs  but didn't find anything .I've since realized that when you walk across the hall the boards getted pushed  into  place but are too weak to stay put so they pop back up later creating this creaking sound even though no one is walking on them on that moment  👀

Something that happened to you that seems almost unbelievable

I was walking back from work one afternoon and saw a 20 dollar bill laying by the side of the road .I didn't pick it thinking  maybe someone had  lost it .But lo and behind it was still there  the  very  next day so I  picked it up and took it home.👏

Cheesy Roasted Potatoes

 Hopefully no  one's tired of hearing about food by now 😉but I made these the other day and was really pleased with how good they were so if you need a quick side dish for dinner  tonight try these.They're good and easy too!😋

I used two good sized potatoes.Peeled them and cut them into chunks.Then cooked them in the microwave for a few minutes just to get the cooking process started.If you don't want to use a microwave you can just put them on the stove top and boil for a minute or so.The idea is you want them slightly soft but not cooked through.Drain and place in a shallow glass dish.I used about 2 tablespoons of butter which I cut into little pieces and then sprinkled them over the top of the potatoes.( because of this I didn't need to grease the pans first ) Then sprinkled with salt,pepper and grated cheddar cheese and then  baked them at 375 for about 20 minutes.

Perfect side for meatloat or pork chops .Espcially loved the way the cheese turned slightly crunchy😋😋I wish now I'd taken a picture but didn't think about it at the time 😏

Dessert Recipes I'll Try Someday ( Maybe ;-) )

 

Ok here's a collection of recipes I've saved up over the years.Maybe one day I'll get around to trying  them😉

This is called a very berry lasagna .It's basically  a cheesecake but it looks beautiful! ( and very delicious😋)It does have a fair bit of ingredients and several different layers so its one of those recipes that are  a bit more  complicated  then the type of recipes I like to collect but I bet it's worth it;just go have a look 😍

https://omgchocolatedesserts.com/very-berry-dessert-lasagna/?fbclid=IwAR1pD9S3MTmd6EXw87OCsfvDddOPHrhukWtqD8wLR_M3ZirzEFOMFlbxpNw

Lemon bars.You'll have to scroll  to the bottom of the page for the recipe but  those look so good !

https://www.a-kitchen-addiction.com/frosted-lemon-sour-cream-cookie-bars/?fbclid=IwAR3bX3zECUsY59tpfw80AKpV_SLqWDtDHcmLg1CusqU147_scG_hNh5XdZs

Lemon trifle.It's hard for me to  resist anything lemon 😋

https://www.melissassouthernstylekitchen.com/outrageous-lemon-lovers-trifle/?fbclid=IwAR3b6y6sIyeOzF4A_fMUiLo8s5jekMUj7qKgS_YQbaF5G_wxtsf1eqCL8ys

Cranberry Fluff.Would be a nice side for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner

https://www.yummyhealthyeasy.com/cranberry-fluff/?fbclid=IwAR0vxIfw_OaNFDsa0ZwcfambeaAa5spW-BvD5e-kdhnC3lOaWiicURXIxh0

Fruit pizza may sound strange at first glance but I think you'll agree it looks so awesome you'll want to eat the whole thing!

https://myincrediblerecipes.com/fruit-pizza-on-a-sugar-cookie-crust/?fbclid=IwAR31VY8Mzmik8RTFEbkDiU57SlP0XkqRWFnxI5-B8Ech_8-lr_zgPKYACQc

A Collection Of Recipes I Mean ToTry One Of These Days :-)

I'm the type of person who collects recipes and sends them to myself on Facebook with the hope that I'll try them one day .The sad news is I never do 😬Anyway I thought I'd collect the best ones and put them on here .I love collecting recipes that look easy and don't have a lot of ingredients.So here's hoping you'll get an idea or two out of this list for supper tonight 😊 Look for my dessert version coming soon😋

Spicy meatballs.These  look good to enjoy alone,on a sub,or in spaghetti.

https://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/2013/01/skinny-jalapeno-popper-meatballs.html?fbclid=IwAR0CNHMowy1QL5-d1Pl_Jg5DZuvrYRAxlM_L9WotzrZa2RU0RtsiCT1c77k 

Stuffed peppers.I love stuffed peppers and these are easy since you make them in the crockpot.

https://iwashyoudry.com/slow-cooker-steakhouse-stuffed-peppers/?fbclid=IwAR0FLuXK_LsHBVvqQ0QBD_cp-jkVyTvggzeuKI_8alZY-DL35oBnilAjBRQ

Twice cooked cabbage .Sometimes you have cabbage on hand but just want  something different then coleslaw.

https://kalynskitchen.com/low-carb-twice-cooked-cabbage/?fbclid=IwAR0kZuSMwoluV1yoSzlU9SyIk4P2fD-hA5mWnGVFaxGWkBLV56qI96UnWjE

Haven't tried making this recipe but I've had the buffalo wraps  at Chedders and I LOVE them so was very excited to find a recipe for them.

https://sarahmarie530.blogspot.com/2012/02/buffalo-chicken-wraps.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR2VdIXrFlJHhYck6wwUvdgcPwfSNrERAxt2FG0bICnJhlFFkyVfRz9TB4Q

This is called crazy no knead pizza crust.I'm all for anything that makes homemade pizza quicker to fix!

https://www.callmepmc.com/no-knead-crazy-crust-pizza/?fbclid=IwAR354rbZB1JiGU69qwUazNyT7Njg9PweICHPWlDstT7cC2hOR7FszgT9g4M

Popeyes copycat red beans and rice.This is another recipe that caught my eye becuase I've had the red beans and rice at Popeyes and love it .

https://copykat.com/popeyes-red-beans-and-rice/?fbclid=IwAR0CNHMowy1QL5-d1Pl_Jg5DZuvrYRAxlM_L9WotzrZa2RU0RtsiCT1c77k

A New Way To Color

Since I've been spending a lot of time at home I've been trying out  a lot of indoor activies in order  to keep from climbing the walls.😏Anyway thought I'd share one of my new favorite things to do in case anyone happens to be in the mood for something new to try 😇 It's called coloring with stickers.It may not be new to everyone else but it was something that looked interesting so  I decided to try it.You just place the stickers on the proper outline so it's easier then lets say painting but there is a bit of a challenge involved .Think it turned out pretty well though I was disappointed  to discover some stickers were missing 😒

 

Links To Some Of My Favorite Web Pages

Since all of us have been spending more time at home lately I figure we can all use something other then facebook to  help pass the time 😊This list isn't very long but hopefully you'll find something of interest on here.

This site has a daily newsletter with all types of tips, easy recipes,nautral cleaning products,tricks of all kinds  to help you out around the house  etc.Been subscribing  for years and I absolutely  love it!

https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/

This one I found on a facebook page.It's basically a map of where to find  every plane and helicopter   in the air all over the world.It's just plane fascinating ! ( oops did I just use a pun😉)

 https://www.flightradar24.com/51.53,0/8

This  is a nature preserve with a live web cam which I love because even if you can't see anything you can hear things  and its so calming espicially at night  with all the crickets.

http://tembe.co.za/?fbclid=IwAR3HfwU3YNse4ugg5Va2QUlVPmoRqUpPllipWawXOrvSJqPfnfEK8ZqOp68

If you've ever dreamed of a vacation in Alaska here's a place to find cabins to rent .Don't know anything about them except they just look seriously cozy!

https://orcaislandcabins.com/

This place is  awesome!They actually replicate old candy dating all the way back to the 1500's! Haven't ordered anything yet but sure want to one of these days.

https://truetreatscandy.com/

This also came from a facebook page.Haven't poked around much but since I love old music it sure looks interesting .

https://radiooooo.com/

Tip for easier freezer storage

 Learned about this tip the other day from a blog called ," One Good Thing By Jillee " You know how bulky bags of frozen food can get and how hard it is to keep them shut ( twisty ties don't always work on the bigger bags) Anyway I made some fries the other night and wanted to close the bag shut so decided to give this tip a try and it worked perfectly What you do is cut off   a thin strip all along the entire top of the bag  and then use that to tie it shut when you're finished .Attaching some pictures so you can figure out what the heck I'm talking about 😀 Give it a try next time you need to seal something and I think you'll be as pleasantly surprized as I was!

My Favorite Apps

 Poked myself in the finger again the other day when I was fixing supper. Think I need to write a note to myself and hang it on the fridge door reminding me to stop trying to pry frozen meat patties apart with a knife cause this is  the second time I've done it  in the past year.😳Also for some reason  the slippers I wear work up an electric charge so every time I touch something metal I shock myself  which is a lot of fun 😏.I even  find it happening if I touch   someone. Anyone care to shake hands with me 😜? Used to have work shoes that did that to me but never slippers!

Anyway today I'll be talking about my favorite apps. I only have three of them, not much of an app person, but thought someone might find them useful. All  can be found on Google play store.Want to note I haven't had problems with any of them draining my battery .I've noticed some apps can do that unfortunately.

ColorNote

I like staying organized by keeping various notes on my phone so I always have a place to write down things when theres' no paper or  pen nearby. 'The best part is it's free and there's no ads. I also love the fact you can change the color of the background and put them in alphabetical order  

YoWindow

Don't actually use this one so much as just enjoy it .It's a weather app but has so many different backgrounds to pick from. My favorite are the live ones of which there's eight to pick from ( nine if you buy the paid version)I seriously just open it from time to time to watch the moving figures and admire the sunsets .Their graphics are so good! There are ads  if you chose the free version but they stay at the bottom  of the screen which is helpful ( I've tried apps where they stick full page ads in your face every time you open it and it's most annoying .)

Christmas  Gift List

Only used this once but if you're an organizer freak like I am you 'll love the ability to create lists for multiple people.You can even add links to things you've seen online and set a budget. It's free and the ads stay on the bottom of the page so they're  not  waving about in your face

Super easy baked chicken

 I don't think  I'm the only one who always has a hard time trying to figure  what to have for dinner every day😉Not only something different but something quick as well.Tried this the other day and it turned out really well.

Bacon Baked Chicken 

All you need are chicken pieces( I used a package of thighs and drumsticks) and slices of bacon.Cover each piece of chicken with 1-2 slices of bacon and place on a baking sheet .I baked mine at 400 for 30 minutes but I think I overcooked them  a bit so you'll probably want to try checking them 8-10 minutes before that.

And that's it! Just add a salad and baked beans and you've got a complete meal😋

Random Pictures

 I don't know about anyone else but I have a habit of taking pictures thinking to myself', "that'll make a great   facebook post !" and then  proceed to just let them  sit on my phone unused😏 .So I've decided to go through and pull out a few just to get rid of them . ( you can tell I'm bored can't you? 😌)In order of appearance here's a set of mysterious circles I found on my sidewalk one morning while waiting for the taxi ( ok   ok I know it's not aliens 😉but I'm highly amused by anything a little bit strange 😜) ,a heart shaped  potato  I found last year the day before Valentines Day ,and then a note I found one day while cleaning rooms.The guy had accidentally broken the lever on the ironing board ( which is easy to do trust me )  and left a note to apologize. I  not only  appreciated the note I was  also amused at the drawing  he left with it.So thank you sir whoever you are because it made my day!👍